Single lever shift control



Dec. 13, 1966 A. CRIST 3290,95?

SINGLE LEVER SHIFT CONTROL Filed Feb. 6, 1964 INVENTIOR gYcL/ 06 62/57 Mwrm United States Patent 3,290,957 SINGLE LEVER SHIFT CONTROL Clay A. Crist, Salem, Wis, assignor to Outboard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 343,094 9 Claims. c1. 74 472 The invention relates generally to single lever controls for engines having a speed controlling throttle and electrically controlled clutch means.

The invention provides a single lever control in which the lever is mounted for movement from a given position corresponding to disposition of the clutch in neutral and setting of the throttle at minimum speed. From this position, the single lever is movable along a path extending laterally in both directions to effect respective shifting of the clutch into forward and rearward drive engagemerits. In addition, the lever is movable, to control the engine throttle setting, on one side of and normal to said path when said clutch is in either of its neutral, forward, or rearward drive conditions.

In a preferred construction, means are provided for guiding throttle controlling movement of the lever, for establishing a minimum speed setting, and for establishing maximum speed settings when the clutch is in neutral and in rearward drive conditions. Means are also provided for preventing lateral movement of the lever to effect shifting when the throttle is set above a predetermined speed. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following disclosure and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, and partially schematic on a reduced scale, of an engine controlling arrangement in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is another horizontal sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

The speed and clutch control device 11 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is intended for control of an engine such as, for example, an outboard motor 13 which is mounted on the transom 15 of a boat 17. The outboard motor 13 includes a throttle 19 and an electrically controlled clutch means or transmission 21, including a pair of electrically energizable coils 23 and 25 for enabling operation of the engine in neutral, in forward drive, and in rearward drive conditions. Forward drive is provided incident to energizing of the coil 23 and rearward drive is provided incident to energizing of the coil 25. When neither of the coils 23 or 25 is energized, the outboard motor 13 is in neutral. One example of an outboard motor incorporating an electromagnetic reversing clutch is fully disclosed in copending application Serial No. 143,773, filed on October 9, 1961, entitled Marine Propulsion Device with Electromagnetic Reversing Clutch, and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

Returning now to the speed and clutch control device 11, said device is shown mounted on the hull of the boat 17 and includes a supporting housing or frame 27, a single lever 29, and means mounting said single lever for universal movement of the lever 29 relative to the frame 27. In the disclosed construction, this means takes the form of a socket 31 which is formed in the frame 27 and which receives a spherical intermediate part 33 of the lever 29. Extending in one direction from the spherical part 33 is an upper or handle part 35, and in the other direction, a lower or clutch and throttle actuating part 37.

Carried by the frame 27 for actuation in response to lever movement is switch means for controlling the electromagnetic clutch coils 23 and 25. In the disclosed construction, such switch means takes the form of a pair of spaced, normally open switches 39 and 41 which are mounted on the frame by any suitable means and which are respectively connected to the coils 23 and 25. The switches 39 and 41 are respectively located for actuation in response to movement of the lever 29 along a lateral path extending on both sides of a position in which neither switch is actuated, the clutch means therefore being in neutral, and in which the engine throttle setting is at or near a minimum.

More specifically, the lowermost part of the lever 29 comprises a tang 43 which is receivable into an open top groove or socket 45 in a sliding member or switch block 47. The socket 45, in addition to being open at the top, is also open at the rear to permit disengagement of the tang 43 from the slide block 47 when the throttle setting is advanced in a manner to be described. The slide block 47 is guided for lateral movement in a guideway 49 formed in the frame. Included on the block are means 51 for contacting the switches 39 and 41 to effect actuation thereof in response to lateral movement of the lever 29. Thus, lateral movement of the lever 29 from side to side selectively actuates the switches 39 and 41 to engage the clutch means in either forward, neutral, or rearward drive conditions.

Means are provided for retaining the slide block 47 in a neutral, forward, or rearward drive position incident to disengagement of the tang 43 in response to throttle advancing movement of the lever 29. Such means preferably includes ball and socket detent means 53 operating between the slide block 47 and the frame 27 (see FIGURE 5 Control of the throttle setting is achieved by means in the form of a push-pull cable 55 having a core 57 which, at one end, is adapted to be coupled to the engine throttle 19. At the other end of the cable, the outer sheath 59 is anchored to the frame by suitable means 61 and the inner core 57 is fixed to the rearward end of a rod or bar 63. Adjacent its forward end, the bar 63 is connected to the lower part 37 of the lever 29 by a pin 65 which affords angular lost motion about a fore and aft axis but which is effective to displace the rod 63 forwardly and rearwardly in response to swinging of the lever in a fore and aft plane. As a result of fore and aft swinging movement of the lever 29, the throttle controlling bar 63 and the attached cable core 57 are shifted to control the engine throttle setting.

Means are provided for guiding forward and rearward travel of the lever 29 from positions along the lateral path actuating the clutch means in forward, neutral, and rearward drive conditions. In the disclosed construction, such means utilizes a slide or member 71 which is supported by the side walls of the housing 29 by respective rails 73 received in mating recesses 75 in the sides of the slide 71. Inwardly of the side legs 77 which include the recesses 75, the slide 71 includes a central forwardly extending leg 79 which, together with the side legs 75, define slots 81 and 83 permitting throttle advancing travel of the lever, the slots 81 and 86 respectively permitting throttle advance in forward drive and in rearward drive conditions.

Means are provided for limiting throttle advancing lever movement when the clutch means is in neutral and rearward drive condition. When in neutral, such means takes the form of a ramp or abutment at the forward or outer end of the central leg, together with means for selectively adjusting the position of the slide: 77 on the rails 73. This last mentioned means takes the form of an adjusting screw 87 which is threaded to the rear wall 88 of 3 the housing 27 and fixed to the slide 41, together with a spring 89 interposed in encircling relation around the screw 87 and between the slide 41 and the rear housing wall 88.

The slots 81 and 83 through which the lever 29 travels to advance the throttle in forward and rearward drives have sufiicient fore and aft length to permit unhindered lever movement through a full throttle range. Stops on the engine are employed to limit throttle advance in forward drive condition.

In rearward drive condition, the means for adjustably limiting throttle advancing lever movement comprises an adjusting screw 91 which is threaded in the rear housing wall 88 and which projects through a guide slot 93 in a support 95 extending from the slide 71 and into position obstructing lever movement at a point above the slide 71.

Means are also provided for preventing shifting when the throttle is positioned by the lever 29 above a predetermined setting. In the disclosed construction, such means comprises the side edges 97 of the central leg 79. The edges 97 confine the lever 29 in the applicable one of the slots 81 and 83 until the lever 29 is positioned to effect a sufficiently low engine speed.

Also provided is means for adjusting the minimum throttle setting. In the disclosed construction, such means comprises a block 99 which is guided for movement by means on the frame, and which is attached to mounting means in the form of a screw 101 threaded in the forward housing wall 103. The block 99 is adapted to be abutted by the forward end of the bar 63 whenever the control lever 29 is swung to its minimum speed setting.

While the device 11 has been disclosed in association with an outboard motor 13, it should be understood that the device is usable with engines and motors other than outboard motors.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch, said control comprising a frame, a single lever, ball and socket means on said frame and on said lever for mounting said single lever for movement of said lever from a given position in which the throttle is set at minimum speed and said clutch is in neutral, switch means for controlling an electrical clutch, means mounting said switch means on said frame in position for actuation in response to movement of said lever along a .path from said given position, means on said lever for actuating said switch means in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said path, said lever being adapted for controlling the advancement of an engine throttle from minimum speed in response to movement of said lever in a direction from and normal to said path, and means on said frame for guiding the movement of said lever in said direction normal to said path.

2. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch shiftable to forward drive, rearward drive, and neutral positions, said control comprising a frame, a single lever, means on said frame mounting said single lever for movement of said lever from a given position, switch means for controlling an electrical clutch, means mounting said switch means on said frame in position so that the engine clutch is in neutral when said lever is in said given position and for switch means actuation in response to movement of said lever along a first path from said given position, means on said lever for actuating said switch means to position the engine clutch in forward drive in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said first path to a second position, and to position the engine clutch in rearward drive in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said path to a third position, said lever being adapted for controlling the advancement of on engine throttle from a minimum speed setting in response to movement of said lever along second, third, and fourth paths extending respectively from said given, said second, and said third positions in a common direction from and normal to said first path, a slide defining said third and fourth paths, and means mounting aid slide on said frame for adjustment relative to said frame independently of said lever.

3. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch shiftable to forward drive, rearward drive, and neutral positions, said control comprising a frame, a single lever, means on said frame mounting said single lever for movement of said lever from a given position, switch means for controlling an electrical clutch, means mounting said switch means on said frame in position so that the engine clutch is in neutral when said lever is in said given position and for switch means actuation in response to movement of said lever along a first path from said given position, means on said lever for actuating said switch means to position the engine clutch in forward drive in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said first path to a second position, and to position the engine clutch in rearward drive in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said path to a third position, said lever being adapted for controlling the advancement of an engine throttle from a minimum speed setting in response to movement of said lever along second, third, and fourth paths extending respectively from said given position, said second position, and said third position in a common direction from and normal to said first path, means for effecting a common limitation to the movement of said lever along said second, third, and fourth paths in the direction normal to and toward said first path, and means mounting said last-mentioned means on said frame for adjustable positioning relative to said frame in directions normal to said first path.

4. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch shiftable to forward drive, rearward drive, and neutral positions, said control comprising a frame, a single lever, means on said frame mounting said single lever for movement of said lever from a given position, switch means for controlling an electrical clutch, means mounting said switch means on said frame in position so that the engine clutch is in neutral when said lever is in said given position and for switch means actuation in response to movement of said lever along a first path from said given position, means on said lever for actuating said switch means to position the engine clutch in forward drive in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said first path to a second position, and to position the engine clutch in rearward drive in response to movement of said lever from said given position along said path to a third position, said lever being adapted for controlling the advancement of an engine throttle from a minimum speed setting, when said lever is located along said first path, in response to movement of said lever along second, third, and fourth paths extending respectively from said given, said second, and said third positions in a common direction from and normal to said first path, and a slide including means for guiding movement of said lever along said third and fourth paths, for limiting movement of said lever along said second path in the direction from said given position, and for preventing movement of said lever in a direction parallel to said first path when said lever is located more remotely from said first path than said means limiting movement of said lever along said second path.

5. A control according to claim 4 including means mounting said slide on said frame for adjustable positioning relative to said frame in directions normal to said first path.

6. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch, said con' trol comprising a frame, a guideway on said frame, a

member received in said guideway, switch means for operating an electric clutch, means mounting said switch means on said frame and in position for actuation by said member in response to movement of said memher along said guideway, a single lever, means on said frame movably mounting said single lever, means on said lever and on said member for releasable engagement therebetween to afford displacement of said member along said guideway when said lever is moved along a first path, said lever and said member being disengaged in response to movement of said lever in a direction from and normal to said first path.

7. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch shiftable to forward drive, rearward drive, and neutral position, said control comprising a frame, a guideway on said frame, a member received in said guideway, first and second switches for respectively operating an electric clutch in forward drive and rearward drive, means mounting said switches in spaced relation to each other on said frame and in position for selective actuation by said member in response to movement of said member along said guideway, a single lever, means on said frame mounting said single lever for universal movement of said lever from a given position, and means on said lever and on said member for releasable engagement therebetween to afford displacement of said member along said guideway when said lever is moved along a first path extending through said given position, said lever and said member being disengaged in response to movement of said lever in a direction from and normal to said first path.

8. A control lever in accordance with claim 7 including detent means on said frame and on said member for releasably .retaining said member in an inoperative position with respect to said switches, wherein the engine clutch is in neutral, and in second and third positions wherein said first and second switches are respectively actuated.

9. A single lever control for an engine having a throttle and an electrically controlled clutch shiftable to forward drive, rearward drive, and neutral position, said control comprising a frame, a guideway on said frame, a member received in said guideway, first and second switches for respectively operating an electric clutch in forward drive and in rearward drive, means mounting said switches in spaced relation to each other on said frame and in position relative to said guideway so that the clutch is in neutral when said member is located in a first position between said switches, so that said first switch is actuated by said member in response to movement of said member along said guideway in one direction from said first position to a second position, and so that said second switch is actuated by said member in response to movement of said member along said guideway in a direction opposite from said one direction and from said first position to a third position, detent means on said frame and on said member for relasably retaining said member in said first, second, and third positions, a single lever, means on said frame mounting said single lever for universal movement of said lever from a given position, means on said lever and on said member for releasable engagement therebetween to afford displacement of said member along said guideway between said first, second, and third positions when said lever is moved along a first path extending through said given position, said lever and said member being disengaged in response to movement of said lever along second, third, and fourth paths extending respectively from said positions locating said member in said first, second, and third positions and in a common direction from and normal to said first path, means connected to said lever for controlling the advancement of an engine throttle from a minimum speed setting when said lever is located along said first path in response to movement of said lever along said second, third, and fourth paths, a slide including means for guiding movement of said lever along said third and fourth paths, means limiting movement of said lever along said second path in the direction from said given position, and means preventing movement of said lever in a direction parallel to said first path when said lever is located more remotely from said first path than said means limiting movement of said lever along said second path, means mounting said slide on said frame for adjustable positioning relative to said frame in directions normal to said first path, and means on said frame for effecting an adjustable common limitation to the movement of said lever along said second, third, and fourth paths in the direction normal to and toward said first path.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1951 Charles et al. 6/1964 Turnridge 192.O98 

1. A SINGLE LEVER CONTROL FOR AN ENGINE HAVING A THROTTLE AND AN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CLUTCH, SAID CONTROL COMPRISING A FRAME, A SINGLE LEVER, BALL AND SOCKET MEANS ON SAID FRAME AND ON SAID LEVER FOR MOUNTING SAID SINGLE LEVER FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER FROM A GIVEN POSITION IN WHICH THE THROTTLE IS SET AT MINIMUM SPEED AND SAID CLUTCH IS IN NEUTRAL, SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL CLUTCH, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SWITCH MEANS ON SAID FRAME IN POSITION FOR ACTUATION IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER ALONG A PATH FROM SAID GIVEN POSITION, MEANS ON SAID LEVER FOR ACTUATING SAID SWITCH MEANS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER FROM SAID GIVEN POSITION ALONG SAID PATH, SAID LEVER BEING ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLING THE ADVANCEMENT OF AN ENGINE THROTTLE FROM MINIMUM SPEED IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER IN A DIRECTION FROM AND NORMAL TO SAID PATH, AND MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR GUIDING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER IN SAID DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID PATH. 